I have a Manager who has been working as a window cleaner/gutter cleaner for about 5 years. However, over the last few years he has become more and more uncomfortable with cleaning second story gutters from roofs. I suggested that he tie off to a chimney with a body harnass, but he’s even uncomfortable with that. Today he had to pass up a job because of his discomfort with heights. There was some high gutters that were set back from the first floor roof line, so we couldn’t get a ladder to them. On the other side, there wasn’t enough room to get a ladder set up. This is the second time this year, that we’ve run into this problem.
He is a really great employee/manager in so many ways, but I fear that we are going to have to turn down more and more jobs because of this. We do have a young guy with absolute no fear of heights, but he’s not always with the Manager.
So, how would you handle this situation? Do you know where I could get him some safety training on harnasses and ropes, so that he could overcome his fears?
Do your gutter cleaners work in pairs? I think 2 people cleaning gutters is much safer than solo. It also allows for them to team up on harder to reach areas. If he is a manager, ideally he won’t be cleaning gutters much longer anyway.
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If I had a employee that told me that he no longer felt comfortable on roofs or ladders, I would listen to him. Perhaps he has a medical problem that he doesn’t want to tell you about, like sudden bouts of vertigo. The last thing you need is for him to fall off a roof after he told you he didn’t want to go up there in the first place. In fact I think he has put you in a situation now that may require you to limit him from heights.
So what do you do? Well, I would try to find work for him to do from the ground. Like give him the rake and bag to pick up the leaves that fall. Or have him foot all the ladders, while that young buck runs around risking his life for you. As long as he can be productive on the ground, and this is not just about not wanting to work, you should make every attempt to retain him. If it turns out that he just doesn’t like the job anymore, then he needs to start looking for another job.
Usually, there is no need to step foot on the roof. It can be faster to walk the roof in many cases but not necessary, and in most cases ore dangerous. Get a ladder max standoff and clean the gutters from the ladder. Also, get a bucket hook so one hand is free to hold the ladder while the other scoops.
Either it is done from the ladder or with proper tying off and around the chimney probably ain’t up to OSHA snuff. Granted on easy walkable roofs it will not be as much $/hr…but he falls and you will be hurting much worse than a few missed jobs. If he can’t do the job he signed up for don’t force him, but it might be time for a new career path since even ladder work with a height issue could be risky.
I lay a piece of carpet over the top and throw a rope over the roof and tie it off on both ends. I leave just enough slack in it to walk along the roof. I use two ascenders, one each direction so I can go over the top and do the other side. You pull the slack out of the side you will be “hanging” from.
… Find out from him what would make him feel more comfortable. Perhaps a rock climbing school has classes in harnesses.
Maybe he needs shoes that grip better. Maybe he just wants more money. If nothing would help, I would have someone else do it.
